Naga People’s Front a divided house in Manipur

The ongoing crisis in the Naga People’s Front (NPF) in Nagaland has reached Manipur. The state unit of the party split into two factions, one purportedly loyal to Nagaland chief minister TR Zeliang and other loyal toex-CM Shurhozelie Liezietsu. The four party MLAs in the N Biren Singh government are in the Zeliang camp.

Trouble deepened when both factions spelt out contradictory statements after Saturday’s all-party meeting held to discuss Manipur’s territorial integrity in the face of the Centre-NSCN (IM) talks.The president of the Liezietsu group in Manipur, according to its statement, is ex-minister Morung Makunga, while the Zeliang faction’s president is legislator Awangbow Newmai.

The Liezietsu group, in its statement, said it would not participate in the meeting chaired by Biren Singh. The faction, which stands firm on Naga integration as the issue is incorporated in its party constitution, said, “Whoever participates in the said meeting representing NPF party shouldn’t be counted as official representatives. “None of the four NPF legislators took part in the meeting, according to other political parties’ representatives who were present.

The Zeliang group has maintained that Awangbow continues to be the party’s Manipur unit president and not Morung Makunga, as reported by some sections of the media.

“The NPF Manipur state unit strongly condemns the self-styled individuals who are trying to mislead the people and disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the state as well as the stability of the present government led by N Biren Singh, who has been trying from day one to bring communal harmony, peace and progress in the state,” the Zeliang faction said.